The population biology of Hymenolepis tenerrima (Linstow 1882) Fuhrmann 1906 (Cestoda, Hymenolepididae) in its intermediate host Herpetocypris reptans (Ostracoda)

The occurrence of Hymenolepis tenerrima cysticercoids in a population of the intermediate host, Herpetocypris reptans is described for a one year period between October 1980 and September 1981. Parasite occurrence varied seasonally. The prevalence of infection decreased during the winter due to the death of infected hosts and low levels of transmission. Parasite transmission increased during the summer months and the maximum number of cysticercoid stages in the environment occurred in June. Juvenile ostracods were not infected and in adult ostracods a maximum of 3 cysticercoids/host was observed. The presence of H. tenerrima larval stages within the haemocoele had a marked influence upon the survival and fecundity of infected ostracod intermediate hosts.     

Matabelea fuhrmanni (Cestoda, Cyclophyllidea, Paruterinidae): redescription, synonymy and systematic position

Matabelea fuhrmanni (Southwell. 1925) comb. n. [syns Lateriporus fuhrmanni Southwell. 1925: Culcitella fuhrmanni (Southwell) Baer in Fuhrmann, 1932; Matabelea aetodex Mettrick. 1963. new synonym] is redescribed on the basis of the type-specimens of L. fuhrmanni and M. aetodex plus additional specimens from African birds of prey. Matabelea Mettrick. 1963 is regarded as a monotypic genus of the family Paruterinidac and not of the family Dilepididae. where it was originally placed. The host range of M. fuhrmanni includes the African falconiform birds Cireaetus cinereus. Melierus metabates and Aquila rapax (Accipitridac) plus Falco biarmicus (Falconidae).     

Classification of Hymenolepis macrorchida in the genus Idiogenoides (Cestoda, Davaineidae)

Hymenolepis macrorchida (Kotlan, 1921), a cestode of New Guinea parrots, possessing a small number (3 to 4) of testicles, belonging to the family Hymenolepididae to which it has been assigned for more than half of the century, is transferred to the family Davaineidae and designated as Idiogenoides macrorchida (Kotlan, 1921) comb. n.     

A new species of Dollfusiella Campbell & Beveridge, 1994 (Cestoda: Eutetrarhynchidae), with remarks on Halysiorhynchus macrocephalus (Shipley & Hornell, 1906) (Cestoda: Mixodigmatidae) from the bowmouth guitarfish Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider (Rhinidae) in the Persian Gulf

Systematic Parasitology - Dollfusiella nimai n. sp. (Cestoda: Eutetrarhynchidae) is described from the intestine of Rhina ancylostoma Bloch & Schneider in the Persian Gulf. The number of...     

Aploparaksis kornyushini n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), a parasite of the woodcock Scolopax rusticola (L.), and its life-cycle

Aploparaksis kornyushini n. sp. is described from a woodcock Scolopax rusticola L. from Lithuania, Russia (Tver' Region) and the Ukraine. Initially, one specimen of this tapeworm was described and figured by Kornyushin (1975) as A. scolopacis Yamaguti, 1935 together with another specimens belonging to the latter species. A. kornyushini n. sp. and A. scolopacis are morphologically very similar species. They can be distinguished by the slightly different length of the rostellar hooks and by the shape of the cirrus, which lacks basal bulbus in the new species. A. kornyushini can be readily distinguished from the remaining species of Aploparaksis Clerc, 1903 from woodcocks by the structure of its fully-developed embryophore, which has polar thickenings and two large or a few smaller lateral projection; this combination of characters is unknown for embryophores other Aploparaksis spp. (except for A. scolopacis). The life-cycle of A. kornyushini was studied under experimental conditions in Lithuania. The metacestodes were located under the chlorogogenous tissue of the intestine of Dendrobaena octaedra (Lumbricidae). The metacestode exhibits a pattern of postembryonal development typical for the cysticercoid modification termed an 'ovoid diplocyst'.     

Aploparaksis kornyushini n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), a parasite of the woodcock Scolopax rusticola (L.), and its life-cycle

Aploparaksis kornyushini n. sp. is described from a woodcock Scolopax rusticola L. from Lithuania, Russia (Tver' Region) and the Ukraine. Initially, one specimen of this tapeworm was described and figured by Kornyushin (1975) as A. scolopacis Yamaguti, 1935 together with another specimens belonging to the latter species. A. kornyushini n. sp. and A. scolopacis are morphologically very similar species. They can be distinguished by the slightly different length of the rostellar hooks and by the shape of the cirrus, which lacks basal bulbus in the new species. A. kornyushini can be readily distinguished from the remaining species of Aploparaksis Clerc, 1903 from woodcocks by the structure of its fully-developed embryophore, which has polar thickenings and two large or a few smaller lateral projection; this combination of characters is unknown for embryophores other Aploparaksis spp. (except for A. scolopacis). The life-cycle of A. kornyushini was studied under experimental conditions in Lithuania. The metacestodes were located under the chlorogogenous tissue of the intestine of Dendrobaena octaedra (Lumbricidae). The metacestode exhibits a pattern of postembryonal development typical for the cysticercoid modification termed an 'ovoid diplocyst'.     

Aploparaksis mackoi n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), a parasite of the common snipe Gallinago gallinago (L.) from the Slovak Republic

Aploparaksis mackoi n. sp. is described from a charadriiform bird, Gallinago gallinago (L.), collected from the central Carpathian Region of the Slovak Republic. The new species differs from all previously known species of Aploparaksis Clerc, 1903 by having a very large conical cirrus with a maximum length up to 1.5 times the proglottis width. The species is characterised by 10 aploparaksoid hooks, 19 microm long, with long, thin blades. The position of the vitellarium, with respect to the ovary, varies within the same strobila from median to aporal.     

The fine structure of spermatogenesis in Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda) with a description of the mature spermatozoon

The processes of spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis in Hymenolepis diminuta were studied by electron microscopy using improved preparative techniques. Spermatogonia (Type A) are characterized by nuclei 3.79 (+/- 0.17) micrometer in diameter, dense cytoplasm packed with free ribosomes and aggregates of mitochondria. After mitoses, certain spermatogonia (Type B) assume syncytial rosettes containing eight nuclei. Primary spermatocytes maintain the rosette syncytium and have large nuclei (4.28 +/- 0.24 micrometer in diameter), smooth endoplasmic reticulum, and polysomes. The secondary spermatocyte is short-lived and is characterized by nuclei (2.0 +/- 0.11 micrometer in diai (2.0 +/- 0.11 micrometer in diameter) and perinuclear membranous lamellae. The syncytial spermatid cluster contains avoid nuclei which condense and elongate to a final diameter of 0.22 +/- 0.04 micrometer. Once elongated, these nuclei become delimited from the syncytium by invaginations of the plasma membrane. During delimitation, cortical peripheral microtubules arise beneath the spermatozoon plasmalemma and a 9 + 1 axoneme extends the length of the mature lance-shaped spermatozoon.     

Palaearctic species of the genus Confluaria Ablasov (Cestoda,Hymenolepididae): redescriptions of C. multistriata (Rudolphi, 1810) and C. japonica (Yamaguti, 1935), and a description of Confluaria sp.

Confluaria multistriata (Rudolphi, 1810) is redescribed on the basis of specimens from Tachybaptus ruficollis from the material of Rudolphi and Dollfus and new specimens from the same host species from Bulgaria. The types of C. japonica (Yamaguti, 1935) from T. ruficollis are also redescribed and figured. A single specimen from the collection of Krabbe, described as Taenia multistriata, is re-examined and recognised as belonging to a different species of Confluaria, the status of which remains to be established. Criteria for distinguishing the three species are proposed. In view of the present results, some of the previous records of C. multistriata and C. japonica are re-evaluated. The synonymy of the genera Colymbilepis Spasskaya, 1966 and Confluaria Ablasov in Spasskaya, 1966 is confirmed.     

On the systematic position of Ophiosacculus Macy, 1935 (digenea: Lecithodendriidae), with the erection of the Ophiosacculinae n. subfam

The phylogenetic relationships and systematic position of the digenean genus Ophiosacculus Macy, 1935 has been controversial and opinions of different authors on its systematic position and content are contradictory. Molecular analysis based on the partial sequences of the large subunit ribosomal DNA gene of the type and only valid species of the genus, Ophiosacculus mehelyi (Mödlinger, 1930), as well as previously published sequences of members of several families of Plagiorchiata (including the Allassogonoporidae, Lecithodendriidae and Pleurogenidae as potential relatives of Ophiosacculus) has shown that Ophiosacculus forms a clade with the typical representatives of the Lecithodendriidae from bats. Ophiosacculus is basal to the cluster containing Lecithodendrium, Prosthodendrium and Pycnoporus and has quite pronounced differences in the sequenced fragment compared to these genera. Based on the results of the molecular study, morphological characteristics of Ophiosacculus (in particular, possession of a seminal vesicle lying freely in parenchyma) and the fact that the type-specimen of Gyrabascus brevigastrus Macy, 1835 (type-species of the monotypic genus Gyrabascus and type-genus of the subfamily Gyrabascinae) belongs to Allassogonoporus, a new subfamily, the Ophiosacculinae, with Ophiosacculus as the type-genus, is established within the Lecithodendriidae. Molecular study did not support a close phylogenetic relationship between Allassogonoporus and Ophiosacculus, although several authors previously allocated both these genera to the Allassogonoporidae. Morphological study revealed the position of the genital pore in O. mehelyi to be at the posterior margin of the ventral sucker. An amended diagnosis of Ophiosacculus and a diagnosis of Ophiosacculinae n. subfam. are given.